Child's killer sent to prison

Instead of opening gifts on Christmas with a bright-eyed child, Brooklyn Branham's family gathered around a decorated tree at her grave, prosecutors said.

Instead of opening gifts on Christmas with a bright-eyed child, Brooklyn Branham's family gathered around a decorated tree at her grave, prosecutors said.

Yesterday, her relatives watched and listened as Brooklyn's killer was sentenced to prison for at least 20 years.

"Brooklyn was a beautiful little girl with a big heart and a beautiful personality," her grandmother, Joan Branham, said in court.

"She used to love eating spaghetti and macaroni and cheese and playing outside. We all miss her very much. We are asking for the maximum sentence."

Brooklyn was 2 when she died on Oct. 11, 2006, in the care of Brandy Ely, a 22-year-old mother of two boys who was dating the toddler's father.

On Dec. 16, Ely was found guilty of murder, felonious assault and child endangering by Judge David E. Cain of Franklin County Common Pleas Court. She continues to maintain her innocence and says she will appeal the verdict.

Ely said she treated the girl as her own child.

"I am very sorry she is not here no more," Ely said yesterday. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I loved Brooklyn. She was like the daughter I never had."

According to testimony, Ely said Brooklyn fell down the basement steps at her Prairie Township home. Instead of calling 911, she wrapped Brooklyn in a coat and carried her to the car, dropping her along the way.

The child was dead on arrival at Doctors Hospital. An emergency-room doctor testified that she was cold to the touch.

A defense expert testified that Brooklyn's injuries were consistent with a fall onto a hard step, but the doctor and two deputy coroners described skull fractures, brain injuries and bruises that they said were the result of previous abuse.

Cain found Ely guilty after a weeklong trial; she waived her right to a jury. At the time, he said, "The court does not have any doubt that the defendant is responsible for these injuries."

He sentenced her to 20 years to life in prison; the maximum sentence was 33 years to life. She will not be eligible for parole for 20 years.

"Brooklyn died under (Ely's) watch, and she does feel responsible for that," defense attorney Morgan Masters told the judge. "She is devastated."

But Assistant County Prosecutors Jennifer Rausch and Megan Jewett pointed out that Ely lied about how the child was injured and lied when she said at the hospital that she was the child's mother. They asked for the maximum sentence.

Branham, who also helped care for Brooklyn, said the family lost a child with unlimited potential. Despite the sentence, "this is not a victory for anybody," she said.